I posted this question on the tracking section but after reading the first page of posts here I'd like to ask the same question on the section. I've been going around in circles for a few days now trying to decide on the best wheel and tire setup for track use on a 2005 S2000 I just bought. I am considering S2000 2006 stock rear wheels (17x8.5) all around and 245/40R17 YOKOHAMA ADVAN A048 rubber. Thoughts?

 

It's a great setup. Just remember you have to bore out the wheel so that it can fit onto the front hubs.

 

... or run 5m spacers to clear the hub and not bother. Either way works/fits

 

If you're trying to induce oversteer into the car this is one way to do it. Honda spent most of the life of the car getting rid of excessive oversteer.

May have some autocross benefit but since I see a little Canuck flag in your signature line view the Speed Academy series on their ASS2000. Running sub-1:20 at TMP with OEM stagger tires. (And a LOT of tuning!)

-- Chuck

 

If you run a square setup like that you may want to look into an aftermarket sway bar. I believe more specifically, a thicker sway bar in front to help negate the oversteer.

 

I switched to a square setup after maybe 3 track weekends. I installed an Eibach front sway, on the stiffest setting. It wasnt as bad as some make it out. I have only spun once in the dry, and that was coming in hot to the turn, missing the apex, then adding too much steering input to try and get closer. Thespin felt about the same as my one the first weekend on a staggered setup...if you dont catch it quick, its probably too late, square setp or not. I installed a rear wing a few track weekends later and that helped the high speed "twitchiness" but perhaps at the expense of learning car control because it helps out so much. As others have said, the center bore on the rear wheel is 64.1 vs 70.1 or 70.3 or something. Personally, i would get Kosei 17x9 off Tirerack for a cheap starter setp. They are as light as rpf1 but something like $600 before shipping for a set.

 

^^^I had the exact same experience. That said, I've got a comptech adj set to full stiff. Running 255 tires up front rocks. Will never go back to staggered.

 

The only reason to "stay" staggered is if you are trying to maximize tire under un-modified fenders, so you're running 255 front/295 rear. A properly set up 255/255 car is going to be faster than a properly set up 225/255 car, every time.